Albion have quit the Centre of Excellence venue which produced Gareth Barry.

The 19-year-old from St Leonards, who lines up for today's FA Cup Final against Chelsea, was a Seagull coached at the Downs Leisure Centre complex, Seaford.

But an Albion reshuffle of session times for next season left the East Sussex base unable to accommodate them, says Seagulls director of youth Martin Hinshelwood.

He said: "It was just a question of Seaford being unable to fit us in.

"We had used it on a Thursday for several years, but we wanted to give the older boys from 13 years old upwards some extra coaching and gym work.

"This is available on a Thursday at Sussex University at Falmer and we will switch the night involving all the boys from the East Sussex area to a Tuesday.

"We will use Park College in Eastbourne for that purpose. I believe it will be a return because Albion have used it before."

The West Sussex base at the Durrington Centre will continue to play host for the Monday night sessions.

Hinshelwood said: 'The changes are nothing against Seaford.

"They have looked after us very well and it has been a good venue. It has helped us produce some promising players.

"Chris McPhee, who is a first year scholarship player, played for the first team this season.

"Another first year Dean Hammond, who has been in the first team squad this season, also came out of Seaford as well, of course, as Gareth."

Barry was with Albion's Centre of Excellence for around five years before Villa snatched him up.

The former England Under 16s captain, once a pupil at William Parker, was joined by ex-Seagull youngster Michael Standing, the former English schoolboy international from Hove.

Former Blatchington Mill pupil Standing has made it onto the substitute's bench for Villa's first team this season.

Villa boss John Gregory said: "Michael has done well."

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